The Fullick family in Selsey
| The Selsey branch of the Fullick family were intermingled
by marriage with the Arnell and Pennycord families. As
members of the crew of the Selsey lifeboat they were often involved in
rescues. Robin Pennock brought the following extract and photograph from the
Chichester Newspaper, Wednesday September 2 1908 to the attention of
Matt Fullick, descendant of Arthur Leslie Fullick and agreed to
its being reproduced below. I am very grateful to Matt and his
sister Rachael Tyson for all the information they have provided about
the Selsey Fullicks. Ernest Fullick, referred to in the extract
below, was the son of George Fullick and his wife Frances Pennycord nee
Allen. A book entitled Voices from the Sea/RNLI by Ruth Cocks has
recently been published about the Selsey lifeboat. It apparently contains
quite a few photographs of the Fullick family. |
|
EXCURSIONISTS IN PERIL OFF SELSEY
A NIGHT IN A GALE. THRILLING RESCUES
The picturesque little fishing village of Selsey was thrown into a furore of excitement on Monday night when the news quickly spread that a pleasure steamer, “The Queen,” belonging to the South-Western Railway Company was in distress [Paddle steamer]. The vessel which was on her trip from Brighton to Southampton, had been observed in difficulties earlier in the evening, when about seven o’clock, fishermen on the beach noticed her, and in view of her position rightly conjectured that she was in serious difficulties. The vessel seemed to have struck the Grass Bank off the Bill, half way between Selsey and the Mixon. Subsequent ally she got outside the Beacon, and as she sent up no signals it was believed she had righted herself, and the fishermen went home. However, soon after ten o’clock “The Queen” again got through the rocks and found it necessary to signal for help. As it happened, Mr. H.A. Smith, with P.C. Prior, was still on the beach, having remained there in case of eventualities, and they at once replied with a couple of rockets to assure those on board that help was coming. [H.A. always carried a couple of rockets in his back pocket!] The rockets awoke the whole village to the fact that human lives were in danger and with true fisherman’s spirit they turned out in their hundreds to render all the assistance they possibly could, and at eleven o’clock the beach was thronged. At this time there was a strong south-wester raging and the sea surged on the beach breaking with a noisy hiss. About a mile and a half out could be espied the lights of the stranded vessel dancing about on the angry waters. Meanwhile, eager hands had manned the old salvage galley which usually lies as a curiosity on the beach and in this craft an effort was made to set off for the steamer. The galley at once encountered difficulties, but so rough was the sea that it was practically useless and although it remained around the shore for several hours, nothing could be done with it.
The Lifeboat, the crew of which had been in readiness for a call,
was quickly launched, and despite the gale, took the water in splendid
style, the last fifteen yards covered without touching the beach. [Lucy
Newbon, 1894-1919]. The crew comprised of :-Chief Coxswain Thomas Sparshott,
Second Cox F. Barnes [Bloss].
L. and A. Jinman. J Willshire. J. Sherrington, A. Barnes,
W., S. and J. Lawrence, W. Pennycord, A.Homer, E. Fullick, and W. Tart
Harding. [This list of crew
could be inaccurate as the photograph, taken at Littlehampton, of the crew after
the rescue shows other men. Below is the name list of those on the
photo. “Shimmy” James Arnell, Jack Willshire, Bill Harding,
“Bloss” Frederick Barnes, “Darlo” William Edward Arnell, “Jacker”
Frederick John Arnell [drowned 1910], James “Jumior” Lawrence, Bill stubbs
Alfred George “Foreman” Arnell, Steven Head, Lambert Jinman, Thomas
Pennycord, Tom Sparshott[Cox],
“Tart” Harding amnd Ernest Fuller.
During the absence of the crew, the utmost excitement prevailed. Men and women thronged the beach with eyes fixed on the dancing lights of the distressed vessel. For an hour or so they stood thus engaged the while in excited conversation. Many remained there all night, working like Trojans to add to the comfort of the rescued ladies. Ample preparations were made for their comfort long before the return of the Lifeboat. Captain Leith, the local agent for the Shipwrecked Mariners Society superintended the operations
It was about three o’clock in the morning when the Lifeboat returned with its load of thirty-one drenched women and children. The wind still raging and owing to the high water and the big run on the beach, the Lifeboat was unable to come in close and small boats had consequentially to be employed to land the rescued.
The ladies and children were at once taken to the boat house of Capt. Leith, from where they were allotted quarters all over the village. From the principle hotels to the smallest houses came invitations for the rescued to spend the rest of the night. Hurried to warm beds the ladies were at once attended by Dr. Davidson of Croydon and his brother, visitors to Selsey, who rendered most valuable service. Several of the ladies were well nigh exhausted and one, bordering on hysteria. laid on the beach calling for her husband who was still on the stranded vessel.
When the Coxswain returned he bore a message from the Captain to dispatch a message to his agent as quickly as possible for a tug. Meanwhile the vessel remained at anchor about a mile from shore. The Lifeboat crew remained on the beach all night and again at day break were signalled for. They set out and in a blinding rain laid by the vessel for two or three hours but subsequently took twenty five more passengers aboard, and owing to the weather rendering landing easier at Littlehampton took them to that quarter. News of their safe arrival was telegraphed over about 12-30 on Tuesday afternoon.
The Lifeboat did not escape without injury, having lost its fore centre keel which rendered its detention at Littlehampton necessary.
Many losses were sustained by the passengers and those landed at Selsey were for the most part hatless, while one or two had lost their coats and other personal belongings. Many of the men, we are informed, divested themselves of their heavier clothing and most of the ladies who carried their purses in satchels, lost them.
All day yesterday, large crowds lined the beach. During the day the vessel had drifted to within three-quarters of a mile of the shore. Between the showers the sun shone brilliantly and a god view was obtained of the vessel. Many of the rescued ladies in borrowed clothing stood on the beach and discussed the experiences of the previous night.
There were altogether some 180 passengers on the steamer and al the women and children were taken off. There were still some seventy or eighty men on board when the tug “Hector” from Southampton arrived about 4-30 yesterday and towed the vessel away.
In conversation with Captain Leith we again heard of the kindness shewed by everyone in the village to the rescued ladies. “I am sure no-one ever worked with so much kindness of heart,” he said. “Both fishermen and their wives did all they could for the drenched and unhappy ladies who are loud in their thanks,” Particularly grateful was Captain Leith for the services of Dr. Davidson and his brother and also of Mr. Peacock of Epsom, another visitor who rendered to the Captain, most valuable assistance.
The report that there was loss of life is quite unfounded. “Absolutely no-one is missing” was the report given by the Captain of “The Queen” to the Chief Coxswain of the Lifeboat, but from one of the passengers we hear that a gentleman was injured with a falling spar.
Most of the ladies returned to their homes yesterday afternoon, leaving Selsey by the 8-15 tram. All anxiety regarding their male friends aboard was allayed by the appearance of the tug “Hector” steaming quickly towards the stranded vessel which was last seen by the ladies from the platform as they entrained at Selsey.
Among those landed at Selsey were :- Mrs. Webb [Shanklin], Miss. Forsyth [Sandown], Miss.Gear[child],Miss.Tutton [Shanklin], Mrs.Warren and son, Mrs. Mearman, Miss. Short Southhampton, Miss. Pinchberry [Shanklin], Mrs. Abery [Arlington], Miss, Rogers [Southsea], Miss Mealing [Bristols], Mrs. Heringway [Portsmouth, Misses Hurst and child [Southsea], Miss. Stacy [Southsea], Miss. Bearedsall[Shanklin], Brian Pullenger, Mrs. Croucher [Cosham], Miss. Ida Smith, [Bayswater].
A word of praise was due to P.C. Prior who was most assiduous in his attentions to the ladies and nothing can perhaps be more eloquent of the ladies appreciation of him than a remark of one in conversation with out representative. Pointing to the Constable, with a pleasant smile, she declared, “He’s a brick”
A
Lady’s Experience
In conversations with one of the rescued ladies, an Observer representative learned some interesting particulars of her thrilling experiences. “It was about seven o’clock when we first realised we had struck something” she said. “We had had a terrible rough voyage and it was rumoured aboard that something was wrong with the vessel. Consequentially, when we heard the grating noises there was something bordering on panic. But we were somewhat pacified by the assertion that things were alright and when we found the vessel moving ahead again we thought there was nothing to fear. However, we soon found out that everything was not as it should be, for although the Captain and crew tried to keep our spirits up, their faces told a different tale. The wind was terrific and the sea washed over swamping everything and everybody. We hadn’t the faintest idea where we were: some of us thought we were right out in the Channel and it was also believed by some that we had struck the Needles. We could see a few light shore and those to some extent, cheered us up but although we felt comforted by it”, the lady added, smiling, “ I for one didn’t see now what was good those lights a mile and a half away, with a sea rolling mountains high, could have been to us. But although we had become quieted by the assurances of the crew” continued the lady, “we were soon thrown into a panic. The vessel plunged hopelessly up and down in the water, the portholes were smashed one by one and the sea came rolling in onto of us until we were up to out knees in water. Ladies began to run about screaming and crying, but the men were pale and quiet. No one believed that all that was the matter was the loss of the steering gear. We began to think that a watery grave was inevitable for some of us. Had it been in the daylight, I don’t think it would have seemed so bad, but there we were in the middle of a fierce storm with the wind and water howling round us and scarcely able to discern the features of our nearest neighbour. Several times the men shouted to the Captain to send signals up, but the Captain was apparently satisfied that he had sufficient ability to get us into safety. It was not until about ten o’clock that he sent the signal up and I can scarcely explain the relief we felt upon seeing the responding rocket. Men women and children all muttered words of thanks to heaven and I believe never were such expressions of thanks so genuinely breathed. When the danger first became apparent, I can hardly explain what happened. I knew we started running about screaming and then suddenly during a lull a beautiful voice rang out and above everything else, a lady could be heard singing “Onward Christian Soldiers.” We all took up the hymn when it was finished we sang again, the same beautiful soprano leading in the hymn “For those in peril on the Sea.” I don’t think we felt so frightened then. And then we prayed aloud, and even one little girl who, too, seemed to realise there was much danger, knelt by her mother and prayed. We did not mind the water: we knelt in it : and when we got up we felt much comforted. I think we were most frightened when we saw the life jackets being handed round. We all put them on and waited anxiously, our eyes strained towards the spot from whence the rockets had been run up into the sky. The sailors were splendid fellows. They thought of nothing but comforting the ladies and children. They went about humming and chatting and rendering all assistance possible, just as if to be stranded in an angry sea, with death staring them in the face was an everyday occurrence to them. The gentlemen passengers, too, were very good: They tried to make us as comfortable as possible, talked to us of the approach of the Lifeboat and tried to explain that there was not the least danger of being drowned. Of course we tried to believe them all but somehow it was difficult to believe a story when everything points to a complete contradiction of it,” she added smilingly. “When we saw the Lifeboat coming our hearts bounded. We gave a cheer and we heard someone- it must have been the brave men in the boat- respond. There was perfect order aboard when the Lifeboat arrived. The women and children will go first, was the order that ran round the vessel. As we looked into the darkness we wondered how we were to get into the boat. It was with great difficulty that it got alongside and as we looked down into it, it was almost like looking down a mountain side. The first to jump misjudged her distance and fell in to the water but was quickly picked out. The incident un-nerved many of us but we were, all the rest of us, got safely into the boat. There were 81 of us all together to get into the boat and the experience of crossing over to the shore was terrible but we had a feeling of safety. One or two women remained behind, refusing to leave their husbands. “We will go together,” I heard one lady say to her husband as she clung to him, as the boat arrived. One or two children remained behind with their parents, but one little mite, scarcely two years old, came over with us, and everyone tried to protect the little thing from the water: and so successfully was this done that the baby was quite dry when it was landed. It was certainly the most terrible experience I~ have ever had “ said the lady, who in conclusion expressed a word of thanks for the residents of Selsey for their splendid conduct. “You might tell them how grateful we are to them: they were wonderfully kind.”